Legislators in Indiana and Arkansas are working on new language for controversial laws that many have denounced as providing a license for discrimination.

Legislators in Indiana and Arkansas are working on new language for controversial laws that many have denounced as providing a license for discrimination.

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Updated: 5:49 PM EDT Apr 2, 2015

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WEBVTT LAND TOMORROW AND HOW MUCH COOLER WILL IT GET? WE'LL LOOK AT THAT STRAIGHT AHEAD. JOSH: THE GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS JUST SIGNED A REVISED VERSION OF A CONTROVERSIAL LAW DESIGNED TO PROTECT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. INDIANA LAWMAKERS PASSED NEW LANGUAGE FOR THEIR LAW AS WELCH MANY PEOPLE HAVE DENOUNCED THESE LAWS AS A LICENSE FOR DISCRIMINATION. BUT SUPPORTERS SAY THEY ARE A CRUCIAL PART OF PROTECTING EVERYONE'S FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION. AND IT'S AN ISSUE THAT HAS DRAWN STRONG OPINIONS ON BOTH SIDES ACROSS THE COUNTRY INCLUDING HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. IT'S ALSO BECOME AN ISSUE IN THE RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE AS WELL. THIS BILL SIMPLY DEFINES THE STANDARD TO DETERMINE THE RIGHT BALANCE. REPORTER: AS ARKANSAS' GOVERNOR TRIES TO NAVIGATE A RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DEBATE THAT WAS FIRST SPARKED BY A RECENTLY PASSED LAW IN INDIANA, THE FUROR OVER THE ISSUE IS SPREADING LIKE WILDFIRE. SENATOR D'ALLESANDRO IS CALL ON THE NCAA TO MOVE THIS WEEKEND'S FINAL FOUR BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP OUT OF INDIANAPOLIS. AND THE LAWS THAT SOME BELIEVE OPEN THE DOOR TO OUTRIGHT DISCRIMINATION OF GAYS AND LESBIANS, AS EASILY MADE ITS WAY INTO THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY. I THINK THEY MADE A MISTAKE IN INDIANA. I THINK GOVERNOR PENCE HAS RECOGNIZED THAT. REPORTER: ON A TAPING OF "CLOSEUP" AIRING THIS SUNDAY, LIKELY CANDIDATE GEORGE PATAKI TOOK A SWIPE AT JEB BUSH SUGGESTING THE FORMER FLORIDA GOVERNOR TRIED TO WALK TOO FINE A LINE ON THE ISSUE. WE HAVE TO SAY WHAT WE BELIEVE IN OUR HEARTS AS POTENTIAL CANDIDATES, AS REPUBLICANS, AS AMERICANS. AND NOT WAIT UNTIL SOMEBODY TELLS YOU WHAT A POLL SAYS. WE'VE SEEN THE BASES IN BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES GET FIRED UP, IT'S A REIGNITING OF THE CULTURAL WARS. REPORTER: HE COMPARES THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DEBATE TO THE CONTRACEPTION CONTROVERSY IN THE 2012 ELECTION CYCLE. AND MOVING FORWARD EXPECTS REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES TO BE PINNED DOWN ON WHERE THEY STAND. THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE LITMUS TEST OTHERS LINES IN THE SAND THAT CONSERVATIVE ACTIVISTS DRAW IN THE PRIMARY, THEN WE'LL SEE HOW IT A DAPTS TO THE GENERAL ELECTION. JOSH: THE ISSUE OF SAME SEX MARRIAGE COULD BECOME A TOPIC AS

Debate over religious bills enters presidential race

Legislators in Indiana and Arkansas are working on new language for controversial laws that many have denounced as providing a license for discrimination.